Alas, the latest report that the Phoenix Coyotes have a "serious" buyer in negotiations, the 432nd such report by my calculations, was shot down by various people with a connection to the NHL's longest-running farce.
However, all is not lost. This modest corner of the sporting world can offer yet another rich guy who can finally put all concerned out of their misery.
We speak of W. Brett Wilson, the Calgary financier and television star whose name comes up regularly as a potential NHL owner. Now, there are a few obstacles, such as the fact Wilson is hoping to be approved soon as a part-owner of the Nashville Predators and protested through e-mail that he is not part of any Coyotes bid.
However, it is Wilson's new television show that is more of interest here. Besides, having one fellow with an interest in more than one franchise is not without precedent in the NHL.
Wilson's new show is the appropriately titled Risky Business, which makes its debut next month on the cable television channel Slice. In each of the 13 episodes, couples (married, unmarried and otherwise) risk their life savings on their choice of two "high-risk, high-reward" business ventures put forward by two entrepreneurs. The couple invests in one, Wilson takes the other and the viewers see who loses their shirts and who makes money over the next 30 days.
As you can see, this is perfect for NHL commissioner Gary Bettman's quest to unload the Coyotes. In the 10 years since Steve Ellman bought the team and then tossed the keys to Jerry Moyes, whose ownership resulted in the NHL buying the sorry outfit, the Coyotes burned through more than $300-million (all currency U.S.).
High risk, high reward? Well, one out of two isn't bad. And Moyes always said the team was close to costing him his life savings.
Bringing the Coyotes to Risky Business is a win-win situation for all concerned. Bettman finally gets to pitch the Coyotes to people actually prepared to make an investment with their own money, Wilson gets a sure ratings winner and the rest of us get to see yet another train wreck or the biggest win ever against all odds.
So far, the proposed investments for the couples on Risky Business seem rather conservative compared with the Coyotes. One fellow will try to sell his plan to buy, race and sell a standardbred horse, all in 30 days. Another says there is a great market in rare wine labels. And there is a would-be promoter asking for backing on a one-night event at a nightclub.
As anyone who has listened to Bettman gloss over the troubles of the NHL knows, he could talk Charlie Sheen into joining the Women's Christian Temperance Union. However, potential Coyotes buyers have stubbornly resisted his siren song. Risky Business is the answer to the man's prayers.
Okay, there still might be a problem or two. Wilson and his producers say any proposed venture has to have the potential to turn a profit in 30 days. Maybe they could make it 30 years, just for the Coyotes.
There is also the size of the investment from each couple. In the first two episodes of the show, the biggest investment is $10,000.
Then again, that is roughly equivalent to how much of their own money the potential Coyotes buyers so far have been willing to put up.